BRUICHLADDICH 1989 Single Malt

I admire the thoughtful job Bruichladdich and Master Distiller Jim McEwan do with wine casks, always sourcing from top, top wineries and clearly stating the provenance of the used barrel. Going into this project with them, I was certain we'd wind up with a very nice whisky, but honestly, I hadn't counted on it being quite so gorgeous. Bruichladdich is the very model of a modern distiller—restlessly and brilliantly creative, while safeguarding tradition from the vanguard of the industry. Distillery: Bruichladdich Region: Islay Aged: 16 Years Proof: 100.0° Size: 750 ml

Price: $79.99

Jay's Tasting Notes

Probably the prettiest whisky you’ll ever see, as a top-class wine cask (Hermitage, or Syrah, from renowned Rhône maker Guigal) lays a rose-colored tint to the glass (and the full bottle positively glows, showing chestnut with violet highlights). The beauty pageant continues as Bruichladdich’s characteristic malty sea-air flavors blend seamlessly with the wine cask notes. The cask brings amazing scents of red floral, cinnamon spice, orange blossom, cotton candy, and gooseberry but never obscures the whisky. There’s a marvelous bright tangy quality in the finish, a limey zestiness that must be tasted to be believed. Some purists cry havoc at wine-finished malts like this, but I have to go on what’s in the glass—which is one of the more beautiful and flat-out mouthwatering whiskies I’ve had in some time. Absolutely unique, one-of-a-kind stuff. We are thrilled at The Party Source to have such a fabulous bottling from Bruichladdich, one of the hottest distilleries in Scotland.